2 Samuel 12

2 Samuel 12:1

THere were] The scope of this parable was to awaken David out of his deep leep of security and sin, by causing him unknowingly to passe an unpartiall sentence against himself, in the person of another, that so he might be brought to unfeigned repentance.

2 Samuel 12:3

own meat] Heb. morsell; That is, though he had little, and as it were but a bit, yet he gave his lamb part of it.

was unto him] That is, he dearly and tenderly loved it, as if it had been his childe.

2 Samuel 12:5

shall surely die] Heb. is the son of death, or, is worthy to die; That is, deserveth to die. So Ephesians 2:3.

2 Samuel 12:6

fourfold] According to the law, Exodus 22:1. And this penalty was inflicted on David who for slaying Uriah, lost four sons, the young infant, Amnon, Absalon, and Adonijah; and for his defiling Uriahs wife, had his own concubines defiled by Absalon.

2 Samuel 12:7

the man] That is, who hath committed this sin, and on whom thou hast passed this sentence of death.

anointed thee king over Israel] 1 Samuel 16:13.

2 Samuel 12:8

thy masters house] That is, the kingdom of Saul, who was thy lord and master.

thy masters wives] Not to marry with them (for that had been incest, Leviticus 18:15. having married Michal his daughter; neither do we read, that David ever took any of them to be his wives) but to be in his power, and at his disposing in any lawfull way, being their king. Others understand it not of wives married to Saul, but of other women, widdows, and maids, in Sauls court and kingdom; neither doth God herein approve of polygamy, for it was not a gift of allowance, but of providence, tolerating for a time this plurality of wives. Though we may here by wives, understand those things which were most neer and deer to Saul his master.

I would] That is, I was able, and would have been willing to have satisfied thy hearts desire, by giving unto thee in a lawfull way, and by lawfull means, more and greater things then all these, Psalms 37:4.

2 Samuel 12:9

the commandment] That is, by transgressing the econd table of the law; the sum whereof is, That we should love our neighbour as ourselves, give every one his own, and do to others, as we would have them to do unto us.

thou hast killed] For David was the chief contriver of his death, who betrayed him into the hands of his enemies, Joab an accessary, and the Ammonites but onely, and that unknowingly, their instruments.

2 Samuel 12:10

shall never] That is, for a long time, or all thy life time. See 1 Samuel 1:22. Deuteronomy 15:17.

despised me] To wit, by thy wilfull violating of my law.

2 Samuel 12:11

I will raise] That is, for these thy sins I will afflict thee with many evils, by means of thy own children, gving them over to commit rapes, murthers, and unnaturall rebellions. the which was verified in Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah, and many others of Davids posterity, who perished by the sword.

thy wives] That is, thy concubines.

before thine eyes] That is, in thy life time, which thou shalt as certainly know, as if thy own eyes did see it, Chap. 16. 22.

neighbour] That is, Absalom, which did much aggravate Davids affliction, Psalms 55:12.

2 Samuel 12:12

secretly] As fearing men more then me, and shame more then sinne.

I will do this] That is, I will justly give over thy sonne to his own ambition and base lusts, and not restrain him, as I could, Hosea 4:14. and will with my providence so order his sins, that they shall become a just chastisement of thine, though he hereby shall be no whit excused, seeing herein he will act his own part freely, wickedly and rebelliously, without any respect to my secret counsell.

the sun] That is, openly, and at noon-day.

2 Samuel 12:13

The Lord also hath put away thy sin] Ecclus 47. 11. To wit, out of his sight, that is, hath pardoned it in respect of the guilt, though he will chastise thee for it, as a loving father, for thy good, Numbers 23:21. Mic. 7. 18. Romans 8:28.

thou shalt not die] To wit, as thy sin hath deserved, according to thine own sentence.

2 Samuel 12:14

to blaspheme] To wit, when they shall see one whom I have chosen king, and so much favoured, commit as foul sins as the very heathens, and censure me as unjust and partiall, conniving at those sins in my own servants, which I punish in others; therefore by my corrections I will vindicate my justice, and first by the death of the childe begotten in adultery. So Romans 2:24.

2 Samuel 12:16

besought] To wit, hoping that the sentence of the childes death was not absolute, but upon the condition of his repentance, Ezek. 33. 10, 11. Jeremiah 18:8. So v. 22.

fasted] Heb. fasted a fast.

went in] To wit, his inner chamber or closet.

2 Samuel 12:17

the elders] That is, his chief officers and servants, verse 18.

2 Samuel 12:18

seventh day] To wit, from the sickening of the childe.

we spake] We did all we could to comfort him, and to moderate his mourning, Chap. 3. 35.

vex] Hebr. do hurt.

2 Samuel 12:19

whispered] To wit, secretly one with another, that David might not hear.

2 Samuel 12:20

house] That is, the tent made by him for the ark, Chap. 6. 17.

2 Samuel 12:22

I said] That is, I thought within my self.

2 Samuel 12:23

back again] That is, restore him to life.

2 Samuel 12:24

she bare a son] Matthew 1:6.

and he called] To wit, by Gods appointment, 1 Chronicles 22:9.

and the Lord] Or, for the Lord loved him.

2 Samuel 12:25

he sent] Or, had sent by the hand, &c. That is, the LORD used Nathan as his messenger.

Jedidiah] That is, Beloved of the Lord: That he might be a type of Christ, Gods best Beloved, and the King of Peace, 1 Chronicles 22:9-10. Matthew 3:17. Isaiah 9:6.

because of the Lord] Or, for the LORD Christ, Gods best Beloved, in whom alone Solomon was beloved of God, Matthew 3:17. Or, as others, because the Lord had testified his love towards him.

2 Samuel 12:26

royall city] That is, that part of Rabbah in which the royall palace stood, environed with waters, both for safety and delight.

2 Samuel 12:27

city of waters] Encompassed with the river Jabbok, which did flow and run about it.

2 Samuel 12:28

and take it] That is, that thou mayest have the honour of taking it, and not I, seeing the conquerour usually hath the glory of his conquest.

it be called after my name] Hebr. my name be called upon it.

2 Samuel 12:30

And he took their kings crown from off his head] 1 Chron. 20. 2.

a talent] That is, threescore pound, after the weight of the common talent; which, in respect of the great weight, was not worn by their king, or David (as some think) but hanged or held over their head, as an ensigne of state and royalty. See on 1 Chronicles 22:14.

in great] Hebr. very great.

2 Samuel 12:31

the people] That is, so many of them as he thought fit to be made exemplary in these severe punishments.

the brick-kiln] Some think that this was the furnace of Molech, or Milchom the idoll of the Ammonites, where they had made their children to passe thorow the fire, 2 Kings 16:3. and 2 Kings 23:10. Leviticus 18:21. And if so, then was it a fit and sutable punishment for such abominable wickednesse. Others say, That David inflicted these severe punishments upon them, because they had, against the law of nations, so shamefully abused his ambassadours sent in love to them; because also they were such horrible idolaters, and most bitter and spightfull enemies to Gods people, and had put many of them unto the like cruell deaths when they came into their hands, Amos 1:3; Amos 1:13. Hebrews 11. 7.